Windproof open flame gas burner

ABSTRACT

A windproof open flame gas-burner apparatus comprising a plurality of gas-permeable vertical baffle means symmetrically placed in front of apertures in the gas supply tube, a nongaspermeable horizontal baffle means superposed over one of the gaspermeable vertical baffle means and additional horizontal gaspermeable barrier means symmetrical to the gas supply tube positioned on both sides of one of the vertical baffle means and within another of the vertical baffle means, an additional gaspermeable horizontal barrier means positioned transversely and above the outer of the plurality of said gas-permeable vertical baffle means through which the flame normally passes in order that wind approaching the gas burner must pass through a variety of wind velocity reducing baffle means and barrier means before being able to extinguish the flame supported at the leeward side of the gas burner.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John T. Breslin Washington, D.C. [21] App]. No. 850,707 [22] Filed Aug. 18, 1969 [45] Patented Apr. 13, 1971 [73] Assignee Washington Gas Light Company Washington, D.C.

[54] WINDPROOF OPEN FLAME GAS BURNER 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl .1 431/329, 431/350, 239/590.3 [51] Int. Cl F23d13/14 [50] Field of Search 431/328, 329, 350; 239/5903 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,621,721 12/1952 Manteria 431/329 2,641,313 6/1953 Crossman 431/329 2,961,859 11/1960 Joy 431/328 Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence ABSTRACT: A windproof open flame gas-bumer apparatus comprising a plurality of gas-permeable vertical baffle means symmetrically placed in front of apertures in the gas supply tube, a nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means superposed over one of the gas-permeable vertical baffle means and additional horizontal gas-permeable barrier means symmetrical to the gas supply tube positioned on both sides of one of the vertical baffle means and within another of the vertical baffle means, an additional gas-permeable horizontal barrier means positioned transversely and above the outer of the plurality of said gas-permeable vertical baffle means through which the flame normally passes in order that wind approaching the gas burner must pass through a variety of wind velocity reducing baffle means and barrier means before being able to extinguish the flame supported at the leeward side of the gas burner.

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SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR JOHN T BZESL\N 'Y auw Mg ATTORNEYS WINDPROOF OPEN FLAME GAS-BURNER The present invention relates generally to windproof gas burners More particularly the present invention relates to windproof open flame gas burners producinga shaped flame.

Experience has indicated that the flickering flame characteristics of gas-fired burners particularly those that would produce a fishtail shape have particular appeal to a number of people. The changing shape of the flame as it flickers is considered by many to provide a unique charm to decorate illuminating gas-fired appliances. The desires of the public for such unique decorative illuminating gas lamps have been evident to the gas utility companies and gasappliance manufacturers andattempted to be met. It has been found, however, that adverse aerodynamic conditions frequently are produced within the gaslamp enclosure particularly during high winds or with winds of selected directions. The wind velocity and direction in' combination have at times caused flame instability or outages which require the services of the gas utility company to relight and establish the flame in'the lamp.

A number of open flame burners have-been constructed and tested in order to increase the resistance of the flame to wind drafts of varying velocities and directions. In general,.all"of such tests have not been entirely successful and evenwith occasional outages such open flame gas burners have beenless than satisfactory to the extent that many gas utility companies do not encourage installation of gaslamps having. open flame burners. Continued customer demand, however, for open flame burners has necessitated renewed efforts to develop a windproof open flame gaslamp in orderto maintain the high standard of customer relationship characteristic of gas utility companies.

Further efforts have now demonstrated that the stability of the flame is dependent upon protection from not only the sides but also in the vertical direction. Prior-art-gas burners producing an open flame have been found; for instance, to be unable to withstand winds of greater than l2 m.p.h. directedfrom angles along a horizontal plane intersecting the vertical plane of the flame. With respect to winds blowing from angles along a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the wide portion of the flame, the flame has been found tobe extinguished in prior-art open flame gas burners with winds of less than m.p.h. and-even with winds as low as those below 5 m.p.h. With such a low level of extinguishing winds present day designs of open flamegas burners do not meet the necessary requirements in spite of modifications that may be made to-the outer glass enclosure. Such glass enclosures still require adequate open access to the gas enclosure to provide the essential oxygen to maintain the stoichiometric mixtures necessary to support combustion.

I Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an open flame gas burner having high wind stability characteristics irrespective of the direction of the wind.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an open flame gas bum'er which produces an attractive shape flame in the form of a flickering fishtail.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an open flame gas burner capable of withstanding winds up to 30 m.p.h. within the enclosure of the gas burner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an open flame gas burner which does not require costly servicing due to outages.

These and other objects of the present invention will be manifest upon a careful study of the following specification along with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view'partly broken away of the windproof open flame gas burner apparatus of the present invention within a conventional gas enclosure fonning a'novel gaslamp appliance.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the windproof open flame gas burner apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the windproof open flame gas apparatus of the present invention illustrating- 7 the assembly of parts.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in cross section taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 illustrating the baffle and barrier means and the supporting structure for the fishtail flame.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

In FIG. I there is illustrated the gaslamp appliance depicted generally by the numeral I0 which includes glass enclosure 12 of a conventional design. The enclosure 12 is carried by lamp supportpipe 13 surrounding gas supply pipe 14 by means of struts 16 secured to collar I8. Glass side panels 20 are conventionally supported within the glass panel frame 22 which'is provided with bottom openings24 to permit the flow of air to the interior of the gaslamp 10 for combustion. The glass panel frame 22 is provided with a roof structure 26 which fits tightly on the upperportion of the panel frame 22 and is provided at its upper portion with a tubular extension 28 having a plurality of apertures therein. A cap 32 covers the tubular extension 28 and extends radially beyond the tubular extension 28 and vertically downwardly to substantially cover the apertures 30. As illustrated, the glass enclosure 12 is exemplary only, and other designs are possible and would be essentially the same. In general, the glass enclosure requires openings on the base of the gaslamp structure for the entrance of air to provide the necessary stoichiometric mixture to pennit' combustion of the gas'flowing from the novel gas burner. 34. The upper portions of the glass enclosure must have some suitable openings for the exiting of the products of combustion. This-continuous and essential flow of air and gas permits the flickering flame which is desirable and subjects the flame to a variety of wind directions and velocities which have heretofore caused outages prior to the development of the present gas burner.

The novel gas burner of the present invention is illustrated at 34 and produces a shaped fishtail flame 36. Referring to FIG. 4, the gas burner 34 is secured to gas supply pipe 14 by screwcap 38. Inserted in the top of the screw cap 38 is extension tube 40 which is held in place by any suitable means such as welds-or-solder 42. Received in the upper end of the extension tube 40 is the male end of the gas supply tube 44 having its upper end closed by suitable means such as end plate 46.

To permit the exiting of the gas through the gas supply pipe 14, extension tube 40 and the gas supply outlet tube 44, a pair of opposed gas-supplying apertures 48 are provided. The apertures are diametrically opposed around the circumference of the supply outlet tube 44 and are positioned near the upper end of the tube 44.

So constructed as now described, the gas issuing from the apertures 48 could be ignited and produce a flame of some shape. However, the slightest wind within the enclosure 12 would be found to extinguish the flame.

To provide protection for the flame and maintain the essential stoichiometric mixtures which are capable of combustion, itwas found necessary to slow the wind velocity to the extent that the amount of air mixing with the gas would not exceed the minimum stoichiometric quantity of air necessary to support combustion.

To retard and diminish the velocity of any wind at any angle along a vertical planethat is perpendicular to the widest portion of the flame or any wind directed along various angles in a horizontal plane that is transverse to the plane of the wide portion of the flame, the present construction of the gas burner was conceived.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first gas-permeable gas baffl'e 50 is positioned radially outwardly from the apertures 48 and is symmetrical to the gas pipe 34. The shape of the vertical baffle 50 is shown to be cylindrical and concentric to the gas pipe 44; however, the shape of the baffle 50 is not critical provided it is gas permeable. The material used for the baffle may be wire cloth such as 30X30 mesh with a 0.012 diameter wire; However, any material such as a ceramic having suitable apertures may be satisfactory provided it 5 would be capable of withstanding the high heats.

The vertical baffle 50 is supported indirectly by means of a plurality of ceramic or metal collars 52, 54 and 56, the lowermost of which abuts against the shoulder of the extension tube 40 as shown at 58. Resting on the top of collar 52 and directly supporting the vertical baffle 50 is a gasperrneable horizontal barrier 60 which extends radially beyond the vertical baffle 50. Supported on top of the vertical baffle 50 is a solid disc-shaped gas-impermeable baffle 62 which also extends beyond the outer reaches of the vertical baffle 50. The solid baffle 62 may be secured to the vertical baffle 50 by means of silver solder as shown at 64. Positioned above the solid baffle 62 is collar 66 which supports gasperrneable barrier 68 and may be composed of the same material as vertical baffle 50. Positioned below the vertical baffle 50 and extending radially beyond baffle 60 to the same radial extent as the upper gas-permeable barrier 68 is gasperrneable barrier 70 spaced from the horizontal barrier 60 by collar 52. lmmediately below the barrier 60 and spaced by collar 54 is, however, a gas-permeable barrier of similar material to that of the vertical baffle 50, but is dish or bowl shaped forming gas-permeable barrier 72 directed as shown with the convex shape downwardly.

Secured as by silver solder at 73 to the outwardly extending upper barrier 68 is the second gas-permeable vertical baffle means 74 concentric to the first baffle means 50, but of greater vertical extent above and below the gas-permeable barriers 68 and 70. As shown, the second vertical barrier 74 is of approximately the same diameter as the bowlshaped barrier 72, but does not contact the ends of the barrier 72 and leaves a spacing 76. The spacing 76, as well as barrier 72 is not critical to the present invention; however, they form the preferable construction which has been found to be very effective. Positioned on top of the second vertical baffle 74, below and radially beyond the end plate 46, is a top disc barrier 78 composed of the same gas-permeable constructions as the vertical baffles and gas-permeable barriers. It should be understood that the materials of construction of the barriers and baffles are not critical and may be the same or different. Usually, but not essentially, they are composed of wire mesh.

The construction is such that a wind from any direction must pass through a number of baffles or barriers or a combination of both. In so passing through these barriers, the wind would have its velocity drastically reduced so that the flame which would be supported on the leeward side of either the outside of the second vertical baffle 74 or on top of the disc barrier 78 would be stable. The important aspect is that the flow of gas issuing from the apertures 48 would not be permitted to be mixed with an excessive amount of air which would disturb the necessary stoichiometric composition essential for combustion.

As constructed in the present invention, vertically directed winds would necessarily be required to pass through at least four horizontal barriers 78, 68, 70, and 72 and depending upon its direction horizontal barrier 60 at a sufficiently high velocity to extinguish the flame which would exist either at the top barrier 78 in the event of a vertical wind directed upwardly or at the barrier 70. It is also conceivable that the barrier 72 may support the flame in the event the wind is directed vertically downwardly.

It has been found that winds blowing from angles along a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the wide portion of the flame may blow at velocities up to 30 mph. when directed at angles of 0 and 180 to the plane of the flame and as high as almost 20 mph. when directed at angles of 90 to the flame while in the plane as described. in the case of winds blowing from angles along the horizontal plane, the angles of winds and the accepted velocities may be from 20 to 25 mph. with directions of to 0 towards the flame while in the described horizontal plane.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art; however, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A windproof open flame gas-burner apparatus producing shaped flame comprising:

a hollow gas-supply tube closed at an upper end and communicating with a gas supply at the other end;

a plurality of gas-supplying apertures positioned in said tube adjacent said upper end;

a first gas-permeable vertical baffle means symmetrically placed in front of said apertures;

a nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means superposed over said first permeable vertical baffle means;

a plurality of horizontal gas-permeable barrier means symmetrical to said tube and vertically positioned along said tube with said first gas-permeable baffle means positioned axially between said permeable barrier means;

a second gas-permeable vertical baffle means radially disposed outside and symmetrical to said first baffle means and at least one of said barrier means; and

another gas-permeable horizontal barrier means positioned transversely to and above said second gas'permeable vertical baffle means through which said flame normally passes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including said first and second bafl'le means being cylindrically shaped and concentric to said tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including said nongaspermeable horizontal baffle means being a solid disc concentric to said tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including said plurality of gaspenneable barrier means extending radially beyond said first baffle means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including another gaspermeable horizontal barrier means extending radially beyond said second gas-permeable vertical baffle means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including bowl-shaped gaspermeable barrier means concentric to said tube and positioned lowermost on said tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including said baffle means and said barrier means being formed from foraminous material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including said nongaspermeable horizontal baffle means being solid and secured to the top of said first baffle means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 including said first and second bafile means being cylindrically shaped and concentric to said tube, and said nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means being a solid disc concentric to said tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 including said first and second baffle means being cylindrically shaped and concentric to said tube, said nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means being a solid disc concentric to said tube, said plurality of gaspermeable barrier means extending radially beyond said first baffle means, another gas-permeable horizontal barrier means extending radially beyond said second gas-permeable vertical baffle means, said bafile means and said barrier means being formed from foraminous material. 

1. A windproof open flame gas-burner apparatus producing shaped flame comprising: a hollow gas-supply tube closed at an upper end and communicating with a gas supply at the other end; a plurality of gas-supplying apertures positioned in said tube adjacent said upper end; a first gas-permeable vertical baffle means symmetrically placed in front of said apertures; a nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means superposed over said first permeable vertical baffle means; a plurality of horizontal gas-permeable barrier means symmetrical to said tube and vertically positioned along said tube with said first gas-permeable baffle means positioned axially between said permeable barrier means; a second gas-permeable vertical baffle means radially disposed outside and symmetrical to said first baffle means and at least one of said barrier means; and another gas-permeable horizontal barrier means positioned transversely to and above said second gas-permeable vertical baffle means through which said flame normally passes.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including said first and second baffle means being cylindrically shaped and concentric to said tube.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including said nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means being a solid disc concentric to said tube.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 including said plurality of gas-permeable barrier means extending radially beyond said first baffle means.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 including another gas-permeable horizontal barrier means extending radially beyond said second gas-permeable vertical baffle means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 including bowl-shaped gas-permeable barrier means concentric to said tubE and positioned lowermost on said tube.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 including said baffle means and said barrier means being formed from foraminous material.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 including said nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means being solid and secured to the top of said first baffle means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 including said first and second baffle means being cylindrically shaped and concentric to said tube, and said nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means being a solid disc concentric to said tube.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 including said first and second baffle means being cylindrically shaped and concentric to said tube, said nongas-permeable horizontal baffle means being a solid disc concentric to said tube, said plurality of gas-permeable barrier means extending radially beyond said first baffle means, another gas-permeable horizontal barrier means extending radially beyond said second gas-permeable vertical baffle means, said baffle means and said barrier means being formed from foraminous material. 